On July 9, the general director of Agricultural Productions and Markets, Esperanza Orellana, chaired the meeting with the stone fruit sector to analyze the progress of the 2020 campaign, which is now 50% complete. At the meeting, it was found that the season is developing with a good pace of sales and prices, with the exception of plums, due to a higher demand and lower production.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the stone fruit production (without including nectarines, for which there is yet no data) is estimated at 1,354,001 tons. This figure is 4% lower than the average of the last 5 seasons and 2% lower than that of 2019. These data don't yet take into account the production losses caused by rain and hail, which were very significant in these crops in May and June, so the actual marketable production will be considerably lower.
High temperatures in much of Europe have led to an increase in the demand for stone fruit. In April, the first month of the campaign, exports exceeded 22,800 tons, according to Eurostat data, which is twice as much as in the same month the previous year. Those shipments were worth 41.1 million Euro, compared to almost 21 million in the previous year.
Stone fruit consumption has also increased in Spanish households and in May it reached 40,000 tons, 24% more than in the same month of the previous year. In the whole of 2020 until May, it stood at 51,000 tons, 27% more than in the previous year.
The peculiar situation of plums this season was also examined. The production is estimated to have been reduced by 12% compared to the average of the last 5 seasons; however, prices have dropped due to the difficulties in exporting to Brazil. This is a result of the phytosanitary conditions imposed by that country since June 1 of this year.
The Ministry is working directly with the Brazilian authorities, as well as through EU institutions, to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Furthermore, Spain has asked the European Commission for support measures for this product in order to tackle the market congestion.
For more information: www.mapa.gob.es